Mandelson-Starmer newest: Former peer’s ‘five-figure’ US ambassador pay-off ‘to be reviewed’ by authorities | EUROtoday

Gordon Brown, who brought Peter Mandelson back into government in 2008, has been speaking out about his former business secretary, and calling for new anti-corruption measures to prevent the leaking of documents from government, which Mandelson is accused of doing.

Senior Tory Alex Burghart was asked if if a new anti-corruption commission would be a good idea, by Sky’s Trevor Phillips and he responded: “It relies upon [on] what that commissioner would do, what their powers had been, and who they had been.

“I think it’s very easy for politicians to, in a moment like this, say, ‘if there was only one additional role then everything would be fine’.

“What’s occurred on this occasion is that the prime minister had a transparent alternative, he had clear info, and he made a foul determination.

“And ultimately, there’s nothing that can really guard you against that.”

Tory Alex Burghart stated: “I think if the prime minister had stopped to think about what he was doing, he would not have made the appointment.”, he told Trevor Phillips on Sky News’s Sunday Morning programme.

“And we now know that all the proof was in entrance of him, or sufficient proof was in entrance of him when he made the appointment.”

Starmer is being accused of not listening to Epstein survivors by appointing peter Mandelson as ambassador the US, despite knowing he had an ongoing relationship with the peadeophile.

Mr Burghart referred to reports that the Cabinet Office’s due diligence report had showcased issues with Mandelson’s potential appointment before it was announced, which included concerns about his relationship with Epstein.

“I do not know what Peter Mandelson did or did not know,” Burghart said.

“He actually denied that he knew about Epstein’s dealings with baby prostitution. But he would have identified after the courtroom conviction [in 2008].”

Lord Peter Mandelson faced demands to hand back the payoff he received after being sacked as ambassador to the US, a sum which could run into the tens of thousands.

The peer was sacked over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but anger in Westminster has intensified after the latest release of documents which indicated he leaked information to his friend while he was a government minister.

Cabinet minister, Pat McFadden suggested he did not discuss Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment with Sir Keir Starmer. He added that colleagues who let it be known they warned the Prime Minister against it “have to answer for themselves”.

Mr McFadden was Lord Mandelson’s deputy when, as business secretary, the disgraced peer was leaking confidential government information about the response to the global financial crisis to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

“I don’t believe I discussed this with the Prime Minister,” the Cabinet minister told Sky News, but acknowledged the possibility that the government documents soon to be released about the appointment may highlight evidence proving the contrary.

“You don’t remember every piece of paper you saw, but I do not believe discussing this appointment with the Prime Minister.”

Allies of Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy and Angela Rayner, who are seen to be possible successors to Sir Keir, suggested they had not been in favour of giving Lord Mandelson the top Washington job.

“It’s up to them,” Mr McFadden said when asked about their interventions.

“They’re over 21, you know, they’ll have to answer for themselves on what they’re saying.”

The reason Lord Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the US was because he was seen as a skilled political operator with the administration of Donald Trump, Pat McFadden said.

“In the end the judgment was, they were looking for someone who could operate at the highest political level with the Trump administration, who knew business, who knew trade”, the work and pensions secretary told Sky News.

“Now that turns out to have been the wrong decision, and it’s blown up in the most spectacular manner. But it’s important for your viewers to understand why on earth was this appointment made in the first place, and that is the reason.”

At the time Mr McFadden said much of the media praised the appointment, adding: “He wasn’t plucked from obscurity or disgrace.”

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright has become the first union leader calling for Keir Starmer to quit as PM.

He warned “we are seeing MPs being wheeled out again” to defend the position.“I want to see the change that people voted for,” he added.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC he said “yes” when asked if Sir Keir should resign.Speaking on the same show, Labour Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan agreed that Starmer should go as well.

She complained of “the boy’s club in Downing Street” saying the culture “has got to stop”.

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden has defended Sir Keir Starmer and his chief of staff who are under fire in the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.

“I believe he (the Prime Minister) should stay”, Mr McFadden told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme.

“I think he’s got a five-year mandate, which was just voted for 18 months or so ago in a general election. His task is by no means complete, barely begun.

“And I also think it is not good for the country to change its prime minister every 18 months or two years is leading to chaos and uncertainty, economically, politically and reputationally around the world.

“So I know this has been a difficult week, but I think we should stick with the Prime Minister, support him. He admits he’s made a bad mistake here. He has apologised for it, and I’m sure he will learn from that going forward.”

He added that Sir Keir “has acted in good faith throughout this” and is “horrified” by the recent revelations about Lord Mandelson’s connections with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Responding as to if Sir Keir’s right-hand man Morgan McSweeney ought to resign, Mr McFadden stated: “I don’t think he should…

“In the end, it’s a prime ministerial appointment, and I think the stuff about Morgan McSweeney is sort of beside the point.”

The Labour Party continues to face criticism and backlash over the fallout from Lord Peter Mandelson’s involvement in the latest release of the Epstein files.

Baroness Ayesha Hazarika told Sky News: “This has been an absolutely shameful week for the Labour Party.”

The Times Radio host who was once Harriet Harman’s special adviser said she has “never seen such anger” from people in the party.

But she warned that “this is the consequences of a boys club.”

She pointed out that much was known about Mandelson and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and asked why Sir Keir Starmer thought he needed to replace a woman – Dame Karen Pierce – with Mandelson as ambassador to the US even though “she was doing a perfectly good job.”

She said: “We in the Labour Party have got to ask some soul reflecting questions.”

Welfare secretary Pat McFadden is urging Lord Peter Mandelson to give back an exit payment he received after he was sacked from office following new documents released in the Epstein files.

“I don’t think it will wash with the public,” he said about Lord Mandelson receiving the money and suggested he give the cash to a charity which helps women who have been the victims of abuse.

It is understood that Mandelson received a five figure pay off from the Foreign Office when he returned to the UK after being withdrawn as ambassador.

Mr McFadden said he feels “betrayed” by the man he used to work for but insisted he “had no idea” about this “other side of his life…live downloading government material to a man in America I had never heard of.”